In Gertie's Leap to Greatness, 5th grade Gertie tries to be the best 5th grader yet. She has two loyal best friends and meets up with a new seat stealing girl on the first day of school. Gertie and the new girl, Mary Jane, do not hit it off, and Gertie tries really hard and studies all the time to be the best. But, of course , some obstacles stand in her way. She tries hard in trying out for the school play, and wants to invite her non existent mother who lives across town. Gertie definitely reminded me of Ramona Quimby. Gertie has a very loving father , who is out of town a lot on an off shore drilling rig, and a great aunt who takes great care of her..however, Gertie does try to come to terms with living in the same town as her mother who wants nothing to do with her. I think Christie readers will love this book with its several laugh out loud moments,  and readers will try to figure out how this whole story will wrap up.